The 2015 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bears were led by third-year head coach Sonny Dykes and played their home games at Memorial Stadium.
At the beginning of the season, Cal jumped out to a 5âÂÂ0 start, their best since 2007. In Week 3, the Bears defeated Texas 45âÂÂ44 in Austin, marking the program's first-ever victory over the Longhorns. The following week, Cal beat Washington 30âÂÂ24, earning their first victory in Seattle since 2005 and snapping a six-game losing streak to the Huskies. Cal then went on to lose five of its next six games, including losses to rivals UCLA, USC, and Oregon, and a 13-point loss to arch-rival Stanford for their sixth consecutive Big Game defeat. The Golden Bears rebounded with a 54âÂÂ24 win over last-place Oregon State, in which Cal gained a school-record 760 yards while becoming bowl-eligible for the first time since 2011. With a 48âÂÂ46 win over Arizona State on Senior Day, Cal finished the regular season with a 7âÂÂ5 record, clinching their first winning season since 2011. They finished the year 8âÂÂ5 including a 55âÂÂ36 victory over Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl. Nevertheless, at 4âÂÂ5 Cal finished with a losing Pac-12 record for the third consecutive season.
The 2015 season was the last at Cal for three-year starting quarterback Jared Goff, who entered the program at the same time as Dykes and set 26 team records during his time in Berkeley. Following the Armed Forces Bowl, Goff declared for the 2016 NFL draft. He was selected first overall by the Los Angeles Rams, and went on to lead the Rams to Super Bowl LIII.
Following the season, Sonny Dykes' contract was extended until 2019, owing to the team's athletic and academic improvements during his tenure.
SCOUT RIVALS, ESPN, as well as the official roster are the primary sources. The incoming class was ranked #25 by Rivals, #36 by Scout, and #53 by ESPN.
SCOUT RIVALS and ESPN are the primary sources. As of 10/9/2015 the 2016 class is ranked #25 by Rivals# and #38 by Scout.